US cuts tax credits, 3,000 offshore wind workers lose jobs

Gerard Mullin walked onto a Massachusetts offshore wind platform in 2021 and felt the work was steady, well paid, and exciting. He had no idea that a few years later the same platform would be empty, and that his generation of skilled laborers would face a sudden lack of jobs. The U.S. offshore wind industry has collapsed after a series of policy shifts and supply‑chain disruptions, leaving thousands of workers without work.

The collapse began when the federal government cut the production tax credit that had underpinned the industry’s growth. In 2022 the tax credit was reduced by 50 percent, and in 2023 it was removed entirely. Without that subsidy, developers postponed or cancelled projects. At the same time, European manufacturers moved their production to China, cutting U.S. costs. The supply chain for turbines and blades became unreliable, and project financing dried up. The result was a slowdown of new construction and a halt to maintenance on existing farms.

Now the industry is in a state of uncertainty. The American Offshore Wind Association says that up to 20 000 jobs could vanish by 2030 if no new policy is introduced. Workers like Mullin are turning to other sectors, but the skills gap makes it hard to switch. Some states are offering retraining programs, but they are limited in scope. The federal government has announced a $10 billion investment in offshore wind, but the new funding is earmarked for research and pilot projects rather than full‑scale construction. If the policy remains unstable, the U.S. risks losing its competitive edge and its workforce to countries that can offer better incentives and a more reliable supply chain.